Ronnie Irani is better qualified than most to gauge Nasser Hussain's frame of mind and after only three days with the England squad he can tell how much pain his Essex colleague is feeling at the moment.

Irani linked up with England on Wednesday and was quick to sit down with Hussain to rake over the difficult events of the previous six weeks. Defeat to New South Wales last night and yet another injury to boot - a thumb injury to Jeremy Snape, which will require an x-ray today - will have done little to lighten the upset Irani senses Hussain is suffering.

"We have had one or two laughs together but I've talked to him about the cricket and he is obviously hurting inside," Irani said. "He is passionate and he wants England to do well. He lives, sleeps and breathes the England national team. It has been a huge disappointment for him so far but he is up for the rest of the series.

"It has been hard but it's tough when you're captain of England and playing the best team in the world. He is a survivor though and he is not someone who gives up."

Irani did his best to alleviate the gloom by making 81 against New South Wales but he was quickly introduced to the reality of playing cricket in Australia as England spiralled to defeat.

New South Wales lost Mark Waugh before the start with a groin strain but were able to call on a man with seven Ashes hundreds. Michael Slater is getting his life back on track after losing his place in Australia's Test side last year at the same time his marriage ended, and seemed back to his free-scoring self.

"This was a huge innings for me," he said. "The last 12 months have been an interesting period for me. I've put a lot of stuff to bed. I feel like a different person and you saw the result here.

"You never say never. I reflect on how quickly I lost my place in the Australian side and I believe it can turn around as quickly if I put the runs on the board."

Slater has worked as a commentator for Channel 4 since 2000 and respects the progress made under Hussain and Duncan Fletcher.

"The England side over the last three years have created a team harmony that I haven't seen for a long time," he said. "They have played some terrific cricket on their home soil but this Australian team is so strong. Australia did the same thing to South Africa last summer and they came over here as the No2 side in the world. England have been dogged by injury but Australia will knock over any side at the moment."